St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day isn&rsquo;t just for freckled lads and lasses anymore. These days, everyone is Irish, including Members of Congress.

Many lawmakers are capitalizing on the drinking extravaganza, er, holiday, and using it as a backdrop for fundraisers. The usual suspects such as Reps. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) will be hosting events Thursday, but so will others who don&rsquo;t have any apparent ties to the land of Guinness and leprechauns.

For example, Rep. Eliot Engel is holding a fundraiser Thursday. Though instead of saying, &ldquo;Kiss me, I&rsquo;m Irish,&rdquo; the invitation reads, &ldquo;Kiss me, I&rsquo;m Yiddish.&rdquo; For $1,000 per person, supporters of the New York Democrat can mix and mingle during their lunch hour at the National Democratic Club Townhouse.

&ldquo;I may be a Jewish Member of Congress, but on St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day, we are all Irish,&rdquo; Engel tells HOH.